Method for enabling operation of a wireless modem

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for enabling operation of a wireless modem configured for operation with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). The method comprises determining a personal identification number (PIN) based at least in part on a predetermined network domain; configuring the SIM to release wireless network access data only upon providing the PIN; determining a network domain of a user session on a user device, the user device operatively connected to the wireless modem; determining a SIM-unlock code based at least in part on the network domain associated with the user device; providing the SIM-unlock code to the SIM; and comparing the SIM-unlock code to the PIN; whereby wireless network access is enabled only if at least the network domain associated with a user device corresponds with the predetermined network domain.

1 . A method for enabling operation of a wireless modem, the wireless modem configured for operation with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the method comprising:
 a. determining a personal identification number (PIN) based at least in part on a predetermined network domain;   b. configuring the SIM to release wireless network access data only upon providing the PIN;   c. determining a network domain of a user session on a user device, the user device operatively connected to the wireless modem;   d. determining a SIM-unlock code based at least in part on the network domain of the user session;   e. providing the SIM-unlock code to the SIM; and   f. comparing the SIM-unlock code to the PIN;   
       whereby wireless network access is enabled only if at least the network domain of the user session corresponds with the predetermined network domain. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining the PIN comprises computing a predetermined key-generating function, the predetermined key-generating function configured to accept one or more parameters including a domain name parameter, and providing the predetermined network domain as the domain name parameter. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the key-generating function further includes a parameter for a serial number associated with the wireless modem, a parameter for an integrated circuit card identifier (ICC-ID) associated with the SIM, a parameter for an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) associated with the SIM and/or a parameter for a serial number associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and the serial number associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and the ICC-ID associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and the IMSI associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and two or more of the serial number, the ICC-ID and/or the IMSI associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         9 . A method for operating a wireless modem, the wireless modem configured for operation with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the SIM configured to release wireless network access data only upon providing a personal identification number (PIN) based at least in part on the predetermined network domain; the method comprising:
 a. determining a network domain of a user session on a user device, the user device operatively connected to the wireless modem;   b. determining a SIM-unlock code based at least in part on the network domain associated with the user device;   c. providing the SIM-unlock code to the SIM; and   d. comparing the SIM-unlock code to the PIN;   
       whereby wireless network access is enabled only if at least the network domain of the user session corresponds with the predetermined network domain. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing a predetermined key-generating function, the predetermined key-generating function configured to accept one or more parameters including a domain name parameter, and providing the network domain of the user session on the user device as the domain name parameter. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the key-generating function further includes a parameter for a serial number associated with the wireless modem, a parameter for an integrated circuit card identifier (ICC-ID) associated with the SIM, a parameter for an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) associated with the SIM and/or a parameter for a serial number associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and the serial number associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and the ICC-ID associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and the IMSI associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the determining the SIM-unlock code comprises computing the predetermined key-generating function based on the network domain of the user session on the user device and two or more of the serial number, the ICC-ID and/or the IMSI associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         16 . A method for configuring a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for use with a wireless modem configured for use with the SIM, the SIM intended for use with a predetermined network domain, the method comprising:
 a. determining a personal identification number (PIN) based at least in part on the predetermined network domain; and   b. configuring the SIM to enable wireless network access only upon providing the PIN.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the determining the PIN comprises computing a predetermined key-generating function, the predetermined key-generating function configured to accept one or more parameters including a domain name parameter, and providing the predetermined network domain as the domain name parameter. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the key-generating function further includes a parameter for a serial number associated with the wireless modem, a parameter for an integrated circuit card identifier (ICC-ID) associated with the SIM, a parameter for an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) associated with the SIM and/or a parameter for a serial number associated with the SIM. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory storing computer executable instructions thereon that when executed by a computer perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory storing computer executable instructions thereon that when executed by a computer perform the method of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         21 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory storing computer executable instructions thereon that when executed by a computer perform the method of  claim 16 .